A spacecraft designed to salvage a decaying NASA space observatory returned to Earth on Friday, concluding an unsuccessful rescue attempt that will be followed by the telescope’s anticipated demise in the coming weeks.
Link, described as America’s first commercial space robot, was launched in July from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific with the goal of raising the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and extending its operational lifespan. The satellite has been studying gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic phenomena for 22 years. During the mission, Link approached within 7 to 9 miles of Swift and captured detailed images of its condition, but mechanical problems emerged that prevented successful capture and repositioning of the telescope.
Katalyst Space Technologies, the Flagstaff, Arizona-based company that won the $30 million NASA contract for the mission in September 2024, managed the ambitious operation within a compressed timeline of 22 months. Electronics failures aboard Link after launch disabled two of its three reaction wheels needed for maneuvering, causing the spacecraft to enter a severe spin at one point. Although control was restored, mission managers determined insufficient fuel remained to complete the rescue effort and abandoned the attempt last month. Link re-entered Earth’s atmosphere after 85 days in orbit.
Without the altitude boost, Swift is expected to descend and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in November. The telescope’s declining orbit was accelerated by solar activity, the very phenomenon it was designed to observe. NASA had suspended Swift’s scientific observations earlier this year and repositioned it to minimize atmospheric drag while preparing the rescue mission.
NASA leadership characterized the effort as worthwhile despite the failure, emphasizing the advancement of spacecraft servicing technology and the testing of new operational approaches for extending satellite missions. Officials noted the mission demonstrated the agency’s willingness to pursue innovative solutions with aggressive timelines when potential scientific benefits justified the effort and risk.
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